Kelowna

Charge in 2014 murder

Kelowna RCMP are commenting on the murder charge laid in a nearly three-year-old case.

Steven Randy Pirko has been charged with second-degree murder in the death Chris Ausman, who was found in a pool of blood in Rutland on Jan. 25, 2014.

"From the early onset of this investigation, there were key factors to suggest that Christopher’s death was suspicious in nature, as such the Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit (SCU) assumed conduct of the investigation into his death," said police in a statement.

"On Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, serious crime investigators co-ordinated and effected the arrest of a suspect believed to be connected with the alleged homicide, of Christopher Ausman."

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and no further information will be provided.

ORIGINAL: 1:50 p.m.

A murder charge has been laid in a nearly three-year-old Kelowna murder case.

Steven Randy Pirko has been charged with murder in the death Chris Ausman, who was found in a pool of blood in Rutland on Jan. 25, 2014.

Pirko is scheduled to make an appearance in Kelowna court Wednesday to face the charge.

He was found on the sidewalk on the 100 block of Highway 33.

While police took several months to confirm the death was a homicide, family and friends quickly told the media he was murdered.